I finished the last of my recaff and took another glance at the chronometer – my informant would be here soon. It had been two Terran Solar cycles since the launch of Black Library’s Warhammer Crime imprint, and word on the street was that some new books were coming down the pipe.
Warhammer Crime is back in 2022 with gripping slate of new tales.
In 2020, Black Library released something completely different – a new imprint of novels exploring the even darker underbelly of the 41st Millennium. Set on Varangantua, a decaying hellscape where only the ruthless prosper, the first Warhammer Crime releases were Bloodlines and Dredge Runners. These books gave us a street-level view of a vast and decaying futuristic city – and also introduced Baggit and Clodde, a fast-talking ratling and his ogryn pal.*
They were soon followed by Flesh and Steel, which saw a crusading Probator investigate a brutal murder that took place in a neutral zone between Adeptus Mechanicus and Imperial territory.** Then, last year saw the release of Grim Repast, which followed the tortured Quillon Drask as he fought to overcome personal demons and escape a deadly game of corruption and conspiracy.
Crime connoisseurs and mystery maniacs rejoice – we’ll soon be ready to return to Varangantua with a new season of Warhammer Crime novels. Baggit and Clodde are back in The Wraithbone Phoenix, and the smart-mouthed ratling has caught wind of a score so big it could pay off his debts and save both of their skins. The only problem? Everyone else in the Dredge is after the same prize! Will the abhuman deserters win big before someone claims the bounty on their heads?
That escapade will be quickly followed by The Vorbis Conspiracy. This anthology sees the city’s Enforcers trying to deal with the aftermath of the fiery destruction that has consumed the district of Korsk. While this disaster means death and devastation for many, it also provides countless opportunities for the criminals of Varangantua – and perhaps bodies won’t be the only things found buried in the rubble…
Warhammer Crime will return later this year – sign up for the Black Library newsletter to keep up to date with the latest from the grim dark streets of Varangantua. In the meantime, head into the places good citizens fear to tread with the Warhammer Crime anthologies Broken City, No Good Men, and Sanction & Sin.
So, the rumours were true. I took a last drag of the Lho-stick and double-checked the power pack on my laspistol – it was going to be another long night. In Varangantua, they’re always long nights.
* Check out our interviews with authors Chris Wraight and Alec Worley about the initial Warhammer Crime releases.
** You could call it a buddy cop story… but we don’t think tech-priests really have “buddies”.